The opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Killian Harley, 2, of Garden Grove, rides an ice slide during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A macaw cools off under the mist during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Fairgoers visit the giraffe at the safari during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Jazmin Trujillo, 11, plays with a butterfly inside the Butterfly Adventure during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

A young couple ride the giant swing during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Janiya Cunningham, 6, of Miami, cools off from a mister by friend Shanice Henry, of Florida, not pictured, during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Sharon Harvey, 73, left, and husband, Paul Vener, 87, of Redlands, ride their scooters to watch the parade during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Adrianna Valdez, 10, of Mojave Valley, visits a giraffe during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Chef Jorge Vargas grills bbq chicken wings during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Richard Venegas, 30, of El Monte, with daughter, Lilly, 9, ride the chair lift during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Michale Mish, 22, of La Puente, left, and Monique Velasco, 19, of Fontana, ride the Insanity during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Redlands residents and longtime fairgoers Sharon Harvey, 73, and husband, Paul Vener, 87, wait in their scooters to watch the parade during the opening day of the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

POMONA >> It was well over 100 degrees at the Los Angeles County Fair and in surrounding cities, but inside “the Igloo” hundreds of children enjoyed an early winter wonderland.

This is the second year the ice skating rink and a hill for sledding have come to Fairplex, months before the usual ice rink season. Ice-America, the operator, opens 13 of them in various cities between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, but the fair offers an early peek, said Ice-America general manager Phil Valentine.

“It’s the best place to be on a hot day like this,” Valentine said. “Being indoors makes it easier for us, and it lets our operators and everybody get their feet in the water before the season starts.”

Skating happens at regularly scheduled times throughout the day. Beginning at 6 p.m. each night, DJ Cool spins “cool hits” and opens the rink up to dancing.

Saturday, most of the skaters were children, who said they were having a blast.

“I love ice skating,” said Ray Ruben, 13, who spent two hours on the ice. “I’ve only gone (ice skating) three times but I look forward to it.”

Ruben and his family, who live in El Centro, go to the fair every year to participate in contests, but the skating is a new highlight, he said.

Ryan Hagen covers the city of Riverside for the Southern California Newspaper Group. Since he began covering Inland Empire governments in 2010, he's written about a city entering bankruptcy and exiting bankruptcy; politicians being elected, recalled and arrested; crime; a terrorist attack; fires; ICE; fights to end homelessness; fights over the location of speed bumps; and people's best and worst moments. His greatest accomplishment is breaking a coffee addiction. His greatest regret is any moment without coffee.

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